Abstract Ammonia, oxygen e.g., as air, and a ketone react in contact with a gallium oxide catalyst at temperatures such as 50°-500° C., especially such catalyst obtained by heating hydrated gallium nitrate in air at about 350° C. for several hours. The oximes have known utilities, including uses as oxidation inhibitors and as intermediates for production of amides. In particular, when the ketone is cyclohexanone, the cyclohexanone oxime in the reaction product can further be converted to the cyclic amide, caprolactam, e.g. by contacting the product with an aluminosilicate catalyst (treated with boric acid) having average pore diameter of at least 7 angstroms, especially a molecular sieve, suitably downstream in the same direction vessel. Caprolactam is the monomer starting material for nylon 6.
Inventors
👤 John N. Armor
Bibliographic Details
Application Number—
JurisdictionUS
Data Sourcegoogle_patents
Last Synchronized2026-11-03 08:57
CPC Classifications
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Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
61 words
Direct process for production of oxime which comprises passing a mixture consisting essentially of ammonia, oxygen and a ketone in contact with a solid catalyst consisting essentially of gallium oxide having a surface area of at least 1 square meter per gram, at temperature in the range of 50° C.-500° C., thereby producing oxime in recoverable form as a reaction product.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
61 words
Direct process for production of oxime which comprises passing a mixture consisting essentially of ammonia, oxygen and a ketone in contact with a solid catalyst consisting essentially of gallium oxide having a surface area of at least 1 square meter per gram, at temperature in the range of 50° C.-500° C., thereby producing oxime in recoverable form as a reaction product.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
Process of claim 1 wherein the temperature is in the range from about 60° C. up to about 400° C. and wherein the catalyst is obtained by heating hydrated gallium nitrate in air at about 350° C. for several hours.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
Process of claim 2 wherein the reaction is conducted in the vapor phase employing diluent gas.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
Process of claim 3 wherein the catalyst has surface area of at least 100 m 2 /g.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
Process of claim 4 wherein the ketone is cyclohexanone and the reaction temperature is in the range 120° C.-250° C.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
Process of claim 1 wherein the ketone is a cycloalkyl, dialkyl, or alkyl aryl ketone having 3-20 carbon atoms.